bhc "No Charges for Unauthorized Network Access" vs BBQ "Will Reveal the Truth in Court" (Summary)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] bhc announced on the 18th that the criminal complaint case filed against bhc Chairman Park Hyunjong and six executives and employees for violating the Information and Communications Network Act was all dismissed with no charges following the prosecution's investigation.

bhc stated that on the 12th, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office decided not to prosecute due to insufficient evidence regarding the violation of the Information and Communications Network Act case filed by Genesis BBQ against six people including Chairman Park, alleging unauthorized access to its internal groupware to obtain key trade secrets.

In response, BBQ clarified, "This matter concerns allegations related to bhc executives and employees exchanging BBQ marketing, design, and sales materials via bhc internal email, which is a separate case from Chairman Park's ongoing trial for violating the Information and Communications Network Act at the Eastern District Court."

Chairman Park has been accused of accessing BBQ's internal computer network by stealing IDs and passwords of former and current BBQ employees at bhc headquarters office in Songpa-gu in July 2015.

The prosecution mostly concluded no charges in 2017, but BBQ appealed, leading the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office to order a reinvestigation, which again resulted in a dismissal of charges.

A bhc official said, "We deeply regret that BBQ repeatedly filed baseless complaints without evidence regarding matters that have already been dismissed multiple times to undermine a competitor. Especially, according to the prosecution's dismissal document, the key evidence BBQ claimed during the complaint and appeal process was proven false following the prosecution's on-site investigation of BBQ. We will respond more firmly to BBQ's unilateral and unreasonable claims that disregard facts and legal principles."

In response, BBQ countered, "It was confirmed that bhc executives and employees obtained electronic files of marketing, design, and sales materials related to BBQ's new product launches, which were competitors, and used them for work, but the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence proving illegal acquisition."

They added, "It is true that executives and staff responsible for bhc's sale transferred all materials to bhc, making it difficult to respond properly in the subsequent damages lawsuit and criminal case after the sale. However, we will do our best to ensure the truth is revealed in the ongoing trial related to Chairman Park, including responses to the case."